Number 3 – The Web Browser

Yes, you can carry SlingPlayer around on a USB key, which makes it portable enough to plug into most computers you’ll encounter and run it on the fly. However, why not provide the basics, enough to at least connect, watch, and control TV right through the web browser itself? Think of how it would work… hop online at any remote location (including those instances where you can’t plug in a USB key), go to your online Sling Account, hit watch, and viola! There’s your home TV.

I seriously doubt browser support will supplant SlingPlayer for regular use on your personal computer, but if you need remote access, it’s a sure-fire way to get it through the most basic of PC applications… the web browser. If web based and compatible with Internet Explorer and Firefox, there’s a great chance it could be made to work from all PC operating systems… and that’s something that would make everyone smile.

Number 4 – The XBOX 360

Numbers four and five are both home video game consoles. I picked the 360 as the more logical choice in the short term, partly because there’s more 360s in the marketplace than Wiis. I know Sling Media is very excited about SlingCatcher (me included), which will be a way to get your Slingbox signal to the TV, but you can’t expect every consumer to drop hundreds of dollars on one.

Software is what makes Slingbox both versatile and powerful, and SlingPlayer would be right at home on the XBOX 360. It already supports Windows Media Video, and it’s got TV outputs. What more could you want? Sell it on disc or make it downloadable through XBOX Live!... It really doesn’t matter which.

Would this hurt SlingCatcher? I won’t lie; it will to some degree. However, I still think SlingCatcher will be a hit since its portable, and also because it will have the SlingProjector feature. Let’s also not forget that every Slingbox owner isn’t into gaming, so SlingCatcher will fit the bill quite nicely for those “non-gamers” types.

Want another reason to take SlingPlayer to the 360? Here’s one. I’d say there’s a chance Sony is working on Location Free support for the Playstation 3. They’re not the market leader by any means in the next-gen gaming/placeshifting space at the moment, but I wouldn’t want to give them any unnecessary advantages.

Number 5 – Nintendo Wii

Yep, Nintendo is making huge strides with the Wii, outselling the XBOX 360 and PS3 for the past month. The Wii has Wii Channels, the Slingbox tunes in TV channels, so ultimately I should be able to tune my Wii to the Slingbox Channel so I can watch all my TV channels. I know… I’ve said the word ‘channel’ far too many times.

Yes, it’s more competition for SlingCatcher, but making the Slingbox more appealing to the masses is never a bad thing. Want a device with mass appeal? The Wii is it. Think of how it would work. The ability to change channels with the flick of the wrist, and twist the Wiimote left or right for volume is just too cool to think about. It’ll be the first time you don’t just control SlingPlayer… you interact with it!

Besides, if SlingPlayer goes DS (like I think it should), getting behind the Wii makes sense. I’d be willing to bet a great number of DS owners will ultimately wield a Wiimote as well. Maybe not quite so much in the US, but you can bet Japan’s Nintendo loving population will.

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